Silver Mound Archeological District - U.S. National Register of Historic Places on Waymarking.com

Although its name implies that it is a burial mound which contains precious metal, Silver Mound is neither. The mound is actually a large sandstone hill that contains layers of cemented silica, forming very hard, brittle rock. This rock, called, "Hixton Silicified Sandstone," "Hixton Orthoquartzite," or "Sugar Quartz" was a very unique material used by Native Americans to flintknap, or make, stone tools.

The layers of bonded silica which form Hixton Orthoquartzite distinguish the rock from other sandstone. The rare cementing process created materials harder than flint. This stronger material holds sharp edges longer when used as tools such as knives and hide scrapers, requiring less re-sharpening. Silver Mound was the largest and most intensely used source of orthoquartzite in the Midwest.

Spear-tips from this Hixton Orthoquartzite have been found as far away as Mammoth Cave in Kentucky.

Coordinates take you to the National Historic Landmark plaque located outside the office of the Hixton-Alma Center KOA.

Street address: N9657 STH 95 Alma Center, WI USA 54611 County / Borough / Parish: Jackson County Year listed: 1975 Historic (Areas of) Significance: Information Potential Periods of significance: 7000-8999 BC Historic function: Industry/Processing/Extraction Current function: Agriculture/Subsistence, Domestic Privately owned?: yes Primary Web Site: [Web Link] Secondary Website 1: [Web Link] Season start / Season finish: Not listed Hours of operation: Not listed Secondary Website 2: Not listed National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed

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